Loader mechanism



Jilly 1934- w. A. MO-RTON ET AL 1,958,501

LOADER MECHANI SM Filed March 5, 1935 "2 Shuts-Sheet l w INVENTORS,

@- ATTORNEY" 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N v mv INVENTOR 4 M W M ATTORNEY,

W. A. MORTON ET AL LOADER MEGHANI SM Filed March 3, 1933 July 31, 1934.

Patented July 31, 1934 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LoAnEa MncnAN rsM William A. .Morton and Carl A. Nielsen,- Pittsburgh, Pa., assignors to" Amco, Incorporated, Pittsburgh, Pa., a ccrporation of Pennsylvania anaemia]. a, 1933, ara No. 659,524.

20 Claims. (or 198-31);

,More particularly our invention is designed as a lehr loader-for glassware and the like.

In designing an efficientwlehr loader certain problems are. to be met. v 1-5' Thus the buck or conveyer which transports the wars ,fromthe fabricating machines to the lehr is adjusted-to, the proper height to suit the takeeout of the particular fabricating machine orto suit the set-up of the machine for the fabri cation of a given type or lengthof the bottles or other glassware. Thereforethe loader musthe adjustable to enable it to transfer ware from bucks set at different-elevations to the transport conveyer of the annealing lehr.

Again, in modern practice the operative speeds of the fabricating machines have been materially increased and therefore thebottles or other ware are delivered by the buck at, greater speed and withireduced intervals, so thatjthe loader must -work more rapidly .and with greater accuracy togproperly perform its function. r l v Moreover owing touthe increased speed of removal from the buck, itis necessary to support the. ware against toppling while the were is being 125, removed from the buck and also while it is being transferred to and arranged onthe lehr conveyer.

, -Again, frequently the ware as receivedfrom the buck is only partially set orhardened and therefore must :not; be pinched by the loader iechanism, nor should it be moved in contact with extended supporting surfaces during the loading operation. Otherwise the ware is likely to be deformed or marred.

-These problems are fully solved by our improvedloader mechanism.

Achara'cteristic feature of our improved loader mechanism is a movable shelf which is disposed in juxtaposition with the delivery portion ofthe buck to receive a selected number of articles therefrom andis then moved into discharge relation with the lehr conveyer for the deposit of the articles on the lehr conveyer. holder for transferring the ware from the buck to the shelf, for supporting the ware from toppling, and also for assisting in depositing the ware from the shelf in proper arrangement on the lehr conveyer. The preferred form of the holder is a pair of parallel holder bars I The shelf is arranged for both vertical and horizontal movement as is likewise the holder, provision being made for'movement of the shelf and holderboth inunison and independently of each other. K V. l

, Other novel features of construction, and also We providea of arrangement of parts, will appear from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein we have illustrated a practical embodiment of the principles of our invention, Fig. l is an isometric no; projection-showing-the loader in receiving rela tion to the buck. a

Fig. 2 is a like view showing the loader moved from its position in Fig. 1 into discharge relation to the lehr conveyer. H

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the timer cams, valves and; air cylinders, and their connections.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail partially in section showing one of the timer cams and a poppet 70. valve arranged to be operated thereby.

Fig. '5 is astill further enlarged detail showing the adjustable cam structure.

. Fig. 6. is a sectional view of the same taken in a plane at right anglesto that of Fig. 5.

Fig. "7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the relation of theshelf, the holder and the buckbefore the holderisdepressed to the ware on the buck.

- Fig.- 8 is a similar view illustrating the holder am depressed. v I i I Fig. 9 illustrates the holder closed-about the ware on the buck.

Fig. 10 illustratesthe holder moved horizontal--v 1y to transfer the ware from the buck to the shelf- Fig-11 illustrates the holder and the shelf with the ware elevated above the buck.

Fig. 12 illustrates the holder, the shelf and the wareon the shelf moved over above the receiving end of thelehr conveyer.

. 13illustrates the shelf moved horizontally away from the conveyer to permit the ware previously on theshelf to be deposited in a row on the conveyer. r

-Fig.'14 illustrates the holder elevated above the deposited ware preliminary to swinging the loader back into the position as illustrated in Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a buck or conveyer which delivers the ware from the fabricating machine or machines, the ware being illustrated as bottles. The take-out of a fabricating machine is illustrated at 2 as depositing a bottle on the buck 1. The beltof the buck is. assumed to be traveling from left to right in Fig. 1.; 3' represents the stationary side rails for the buck level with its top surface.

4 represents the lehr provided with a conveyer 5 which is shown as of the wire-meshtype. The were to be annealed is. arranged in transverse 11 0 head 10, lower cross-head 11 and vertical'connecting rods 12. The frame is thusarranged to swing on a vertical axis which is coincident with the center line of the frame.

13 and 14 represent, respectively, upperand, lower double-acting cylinders which are pro vided with sleeve-guides which are slidably mounted on the rods 12.

The upper cylinder 13 is closed at its upper end and its piston 15 is provided with a rod 16 which extends through a gland in the lower end of the cylinder 13 and is fixed at its lower end to the cylinder 14.

Thus we have shown the piston rod attached to a cross bar 1'7 which connects the sleeve-guides of the cylinder 14.

The piston 18 of the cylinder 14 is provided with a depending piston rod 19 which extends through a gland in the lower end of the cylinder and is fixed to the center of the lower crosshead 11.

20 represents an abutment bolt screwed through the upper end of the lower cylinder 14 and arranged to impinge againstthe piston to adjustably limit the descent of the cylinder relative to the main frame.

21 represents a pair of parallel-and horizontally disposed bars fixed to and extendingfor- Wardly from the sleeve-guides of the lower cylinder 14. 22 represents a frame, for convenience termed the shelf-frame, which'is mounted'on the rods 21 and arranged to slide transversely of the latter'in a horizontal plane. Thus the end rodsof the shelf-frame may slide in sleeves 23 carried by the rods 21.

For the purpose of moving the shelf-frame 22 relative to its'supporting rods 21, a double-acting cylinder 24 is mounted on the rods 21 and has its piston rod 25 connected to 'a suitably arranged portion of the shelf frame.

The shelf-frame is provided with the depending legs 26 to the lower ends of which is fixed the horizontally disposed shelf 2'7.

28 represents a pair of parallel and horizontally disposed rods fixed to and extending forwardly from the sleeve-guides of the upper cylinder 13, and 29 represents a frame, for convenience termed the holder-frame, mounted on the rods 28 and arranged to slide transversely of the latter in a horizontal plane. Thus the end rods of the holder-frame may slide in sleeves 30 carried by the rods 28.

For the purpose of moving the holder-frame 29 relative to the supporting rods28, we provide adouble-acting cylinder 31 supported by the rods 28 and having its piston rod 32 connected to a suitably arranged portion of the frame 29.

33 represents two pairs of coacting tong-arms which depend from the holder-frame 29 and are pivotally supported therefrom adjacent their upper ends, as at 34. The upper ends of the members of each pair of arms are connected by toggle links 35 and the pivots of the two pairs of linkS' are formed by the horizontally disposed rod 36 which is connected at its center to the upper end of the piston rod 37 of the double-acting cylinder 38 mounted on the holder-frame 29. 39 represents horizontally disposed holder-bars which are mounted on the lower ends of corresponding members of the two pairs of arms 33.

It is obvious that when fluid pressure is admitted to the lower end of the cylinder 38 the rod is raised and the bars 39 are caused to sepa- 'rate, while the admission of fluid pressure to the .upper end of the cylinder will cause said bars to converge.

- .To prevent the holder-bars from pinching the ware as they converge, we provide means for adjustably limiting their converging movement. Thus, as illustrated in Fig. 3 an abutment bolt 40 may be screwed through a threaded hole in the lower end of the cylinder 38 to limit the downward travel of the piston. Thus the bars may be nicely adjusted to furnish the proper lateral support for the ware without danger of pinching or otherwise injuring the ware.

41 represents a gate pivoted to the side rail 3 of the buck and pivotally connected intermediate of its ends to the piston rod42 of a double-acting cylinder 43. The gate is at intervals swung into the path of thetraveling line of bottles to halt the advance while a row is being shifted from the buck to the shelf.

For thepurpose of swinging the main-frame as hereinafter described a cylinder 44 is mounted on the base "I and its piston rod 45 is provided with a rack 46 which meshes with a pinion 47 mounted on the lower gudgeon of the main frame below the lower bracket 9.

As has been indicated by the foregoing description, we prefer to operate our lehr loader by fluid pressure means, but it is obvious other methods of operation may be substituted.

In Fig. 3 We illustrate a practical and convenient arrangement for fluid pressure operation and control. Thus 48,49, 50, 51, 52, 53 and 54 represent piston valves of a type in common use in the glass fabricating art. Said valves are all supplied with compressed air by the branched pipe 55, and are employed to control the operation of the cylinders.

The cylinder ports of the valve 48 are connected to the opposite ends of the cylinder 31 by the pipes 31a and 312) respectively. The like ports of the valve 49 are connected to the opposite ends of the valves 38 by the pipes 38a-38b, respectively. The like ports of the valve 50 are connected by the pipes 13a and 13b to the opposite ends of the cylinder 13. The like ports of the valve 51 are connected to the opposite ends of the cylinder 24 by the pipes 24a and 242), respectively. The like ports of the valve 52 are connected to the opposite ends of the cyline der 14 by the pipes 14a and 1417, respectively. The like ports 'of the valve 53 are connected to the opposite ends of the cylinder 44 by the pipes 44a and 44b,- respectively. The like ports of the valve 54 are connected-to the opposite ends of the cyl inder 43 by the pipes 43a and 4312 respectively.

56 represents a battery of poppet valves mounted in a common support 57. Compressed air is supplied to said poppet valves by a passage 58 connected to the pipe 55. The valves are connected in pairs to the opposite ends of the several valves inthe usual manner as shown in Fig. 3. Thus the pipes 48a and 48b connect the opposite ends of the valve 48 to adjacent poppet valves. In like manner similarly indicated pipes connect the opposite-ends of each "ofthe' other control valves to a pair of adjacent poppet valves.

The poppet valves are actuated by means of strikers 59 adjustably mounted on disks which in turn are mounted on the timer'shaft fil'driven through the speed reducer 62 bythe motor 63. As

indicated in the drawings" the strikers are ad justable about their respective disks so that the proper relative timing of the. actuation of the various poppet valves may be obtained. 5 1

sponding connecting pipeis open to atmosphere;

thereby relieving pressure from-the corresponding end of the control valve.

The normal operation of our improv is illustrated by Figs. 7 to 14 inclusive. in

Fig. 7 the loader is shown in receiving position,

the proper adjustment of the abutment {bolt 20 in the head of the cylinder 14. As-will be seen the shelfframe 22 and the shelf are lowered: by the admission of fluidpressure in the lower end of the cylinder 14, causing it to descendrelative to its stationary piston and thus by properly adlusting the bolt going shelf in descending will halt at the p oper level. i

Still referring to Fig; 'ltlieholdr-franie 29 shifted to the leftrelative to themain frame so that the tong-arms and holderlbars are above the row of bottles on the buck, the holder-frame having been previously elevated bythe admission of fluid pressure into the upper end of the cylinder 13. The holder-bars 39 have also been sp'realtl apart by the admission of fluid pressure into the lower end of the cylinder 38. Y I The next step, as illustrated in Fig. lathe lowering of the spread holder-bars to either side of the row of bottleson the buck. The nextstep. Fig. 9, is the convergence of the holderf-barsinto light contact with the row of bottles; This is accomplished by the admission of fluid pressure into the upper end ofthecylinder 38. f By adjusting the abutment bolt 40in the lower endof "the cylinder the proper convergence of the holderbars is obtainedjust suflicient to. enable the ware to be properly manipulated while avoiding pinching or marring the ware. The next step isillustrated in Fig. 10, comprising the shiftingflof the row of bottles held between the holder bars from fthe buck onto the shelf 27. This is accomplfshed'by the admission of fluid pressure into theleft hand end of the cylinder 31,.thus shifting the holderframe 29 relative to the main frameQftoWardthe right in Fig. 1. At the proper moment; prefera bly as the holder-bars are lowered and just as they are caused to converge, the gate41 is swung infront of the line of bottles travelingon the buck to temporarily halt the line. As soon" as the row i of bottles is shifted from the buck as in Fig; 10,' the gate is retracted by the admission of"fluidpressure into the front end of the "cylinder43'i The next step is the elevation of the shelf and holder-bars with the row'of bottles :to the proper level so that when the main fram'erisswung from ed loader the lehr conveyer. x: i

its pos'itionih 'Fig. l-to its; position in Fig. 2 the shelflwill overlap the front end of the lehr conveyer fi' and beispaced'sufiiciently above the same to clear it. a

By the introduction of fluid pressure into the upper end'of thecylinder 14 the shelf-frame 22 andtheiholder-frame29 are elevated in unison, thuselevating the row of bottles resting on the shelf. ashillustrated inFig. 11. The next step is-the swinging of the main frame into its positionillustrated inFig. 2; This is accomplishedby the introduction of fluid pressure into'the rear end of the cylinder. As shown in Fig. 12 the shelfnow overlaps the receiving end of the lehr conveyer with the bottles held on the shelf by the holder-bars. i

.lt'gisobvious that the elevation of the shelf and theswinging of the main frame may occur simulwtaneous-lyt The next; step isthe retraction of the shelf from-beneath the rowof bottles, causing them to bedeposited in proper array on the lehr eonveyer, as is illustrated in Fig. 13, the bottles being held from following the moving shelf and from toppling by the stationary holder-bars. The shelf: is shifted by the admission of fluid pressure in .the *rear end of the cylinder 24.

The next step is the elevation of the holder-. bars .abovethe deposited row of bottles. This is illustrated in Fig. 14 and is accomplished by the introduction of fluid pressure into the upper end of the cylinder-13, thuselevating the holderframe: 29. If desired the holderrbars may be startedto diverge before being elevated but care must be observednot to touch or topple the adjacent rows of bottles on the lehrconveyer. This divergence is accomplished by introducing fluid pressure into thelower end ofcylinder 38. 1

' The nextstepis the introduction of fluid'pressureinto theyfront end of the cylinder 44, thus 11 swinging the main frame from its position in Fig. 2 "to its position in Fig. 1, The next step is the lowering of. the shelf 27 to the level ofthe buck which is accomplished by the introduction of fluid pressureint-o the lower end of cylinder 14. Simultaneously fluid pressure is; introduced into the-upper endof cylinder 13, thus preventing this cylinder from moving downwardly with the cylin-' der: 14. Thus while, the shelf is lowered the holder-.barsremain elevated. The holder-bars are then shifted to the left so as to be poised above-the pathof the ware on the buck. This is accomplished-by the introduction. of fluid pres-- sure into therear end of the cylinder 31. i

It is obvious that the shelf may be lowered and the holder-bars shifted relative thereto while the main frame isbeing swung into its position shown inFigyL- It is evident that the holder-frame must-be capable of,. greater'jhorizontal movement relative towthe .main frame than the shelf-frame. This may beconveniently' provided for by making the cylinder.31;longer than the cylinder 24.

' The length of theshelf isgoverned by the ef-' fective'width of the lehr conveyer so that a: row of bottles of proper length to fill the lehr conveyer is loaded thereon. 1

n The lift of;the cylinder 13 independent of its movement in unison withthe cylinder 14 is sufli cient to enablethe holder bars to be elevated out of contact with the bottlesv on the buck and on Whileiour improved. loader is especially designed for transferring bottles and other. ware fromaJbuckfior delivery. conveyer to and ar- 1.50

ranging them on a lehr conveyer,-it is obvious that it may be employed for the transfer of other types of ware or. articles from one conveyer to another.

We claim: e

1. In loader mechanism for removing articles from one conveyer and arranging said articles on a second conveyer which is'disposed in angular relation to the first-named conveyer, the combination of a shelf arranged for swinging movement about a vertical axis between the conveyers, holder-means associated with the shelf and-arranged for movement in unison with theshelf and also independently ofthe shelf, and means for selectively moving the shelf and the holdermeans whereby the shelf is leveled inparallelism with the first conveyer, the holder-means engages articles on the first conveyer and shifts them onto the shelf, the shelf and the holder-means are brought adjacent to the second conveyer, the articles are removed from the shelf and arranged on the second conveyer andthe shelf and the holder means are-returned to the first conveyer to repeat the steps.

'2. In loader mechanism for removing article from one conveyer and arranging said articles on a second conveyer which is disposed in angular relation to the first-named conveyer, the combination of a shelf arranged for swinging movement about a vertical axis between the conveyers, holder-means associated with the shelf and arranged for movement in unison with the shelf and'also independently of the shelf, and means for selectively moving the shelf and the holder- 'I means whereby the shelf is leveled in parallelism I the holder-means are returned to the first conveyer to-repeat the steps.

3. Inloader mechanism for removing articles from one conveyer and arranging said articles on a second conveyer which is disposed in an- Zgular relation to the first named conveyer, the

combination of a shelf arranged for swinging movement about a vertical axis between the conveyers, holder-means associated with the shelf and arranged for movement in unison with the shelf and'also independently of the shelf, and means for selectively moving the shelf and the holder-means whereby the shelf is leveled in parallelism with the first conveyer, the holdermeans engages articles on the first conveyer and shifts them onto the shelf, the shelf and the holder-means are brought in position above and disposed 'at'substantially right angles to the axis of the second conveyer, the shelf is retracted from beneath the articles while they are sustained glaterally by the holder-means whereby the articles are deposited on the second conveyer, the holder-means is disengaged from the deposited articles and the shelf and the holder-means are returned to the first conveyer to repeat the steps.

4. In loader mechanism for removing articles from one'conveyer and arranging said articles on a second conveyer, the combination of a shelf arranged for both vertical and horizontal movement betw'eenthe conveyers, holder-meansassociated with the shelf and arranged for movement inunison with the shelf and also independently of the shelf, and operative means arranged for selectively moving the shelf and the holder-means horizontally and vertically whereby the shelf is leveled in parallelism with the first conveyer, the holder-means engages articles on the first conveyer and shifts them onto the shelf, the shelf and holder-means are brought adjacent to the; second conveyer, the articles are removed from the shelf and arranged on the second conveyer and the shelf and holder-means arereturned to the'first conveyer to repeat the steps:

5. In loader mechanism for removing articles from one conveyer and arranging said articles on a second conveyer, the combination of a shelf arranged for both vertical and horizontal movement between the conveyers, holder-means associated with the shelf and arranged for movement in unison with the shelf and also independently of the shelf, and operative means arranged for selectively moving the shelf and the holdermeans horizontally and vertically whereby the shelf is leveled in parallelism with the first conveyer, the holder-means engages articles on the first conveyer and shifts them onto the shelf, the shelf and holder-means are brought in position above the second conveyer, the shelf is retracted from beneath the articles while they are sustained laterally by the holder-means whereby the articles are deposited on the second conveyer, the holder-means is disengaged from the deposited articles and the shelf and the holder means arereturned to the first conveyer to repeat the steps.

6. In loader mechanism for removing articles from one conveyer and arranging said articles on a second conveyer, the combination .of a shelf arranged for both vertical and horizontal movement between the conveyers, holder-means associated with the shelf and arranged for movement in unison with the shelf and also independently of the shelf, and operative means arranged for selectively moving the shelf and the holdermeans horizontally and vertically whereby the shelf is leveled in parallelism with the first conveyer, the holder-means engages articles on the first conveyer and shifts them onto the shelf, the shelf and holder-means are brought in position above and disposed at substantially right angles to the second conveyer, the shelf is retracted from beneath the articles while they are sustainedlat-- erally by the holder-means whereby the articles are deposited on the second conveyer, the holdermeans is disengaged from the deposited articles and the shelf and the holder-means are returned to the first conveyer to repeat the steps.

7. In loader mechanism for removing articles from one conveyer and arranging said articles on a second conveyer, the combination of a shelf arranged for movement between the conveyers, holder-means associated with the shelf and arranged for movement in unison with the shelf and also independently of the shelf, means for selectively moving the shelf and the holdermeans whereby the shelf is leveled in parallelism with the first conveyer, the holder-means engages articles on the first conveyer and shifts them onto the shelf, the shelf and the holdermeans are brought adjacent to the second conveyer, the articles are removed from the shelf and arranged on the second conveyer and the shelf andthe holder means are returned to the first conveyer to repeat the steps, and means for varying the elevation of the shelf to accommodat varying levels of the first conveyer.

' the f8i-1'n loader; mechanism for removing articles from one conveyer and arranging said articles on a second conveyer, the combination of a shelf arrangedfor both vertical and horizontal movement between the conveyers, holder-means associated with the shelf and arranged for movement in unison with the shelf and also independently of the shelf, operative means arranged for selectively moving the shelf *and the holder-means horizontally and vertically whereby the shelf is leveled in parallelism with the first conveyer, the holder-means engages articles on conveyer and shifts them onto the shelf, the shelf and "holder-means are brought adjacent to the second conveyer, thearticles are removed from theshelf and arranged on-the second conveyer and the shelf and holder-means are returned to firstconveye'r torep'eat the steps, and means for varying the elevation of the shelf to accommodatevarying levels of the first conveyer.

9. In loadermechanism for removing articles from one conveyer and arranging said articles on a second conveyer, the combination of a frame arranged for movement between said conveyers, a shelf carried by said frame and arranged for movement relative to the frame, holder-means carried by said frame and arranged for both vertical and horizontal movement relative to said frame, and selective means for moving the frame,

1' the shelf and the holder-means whereby the shelf is leveled in parallelism with the first conveyer, the holder-means engages articles on the first conveyer and shifts them to the shelf, the shelf and holder-means are brought adjacent to the second conveyer and the articles are deposited on the second conveyer.

10. In loader mechanism for removing articles from one conveyer and arranging said articles on a second conveyer, the combination of a frame arranged for movement on a vertical axis between said conveyers, a shelf carried by said frame and arranged for movement relative to the frame, holder-means carried by said frame and arranged for both vertical and horizontal move- "T11 ment relative to said frame, and selective means for moving the frame, the shelf and the holdermeans whereby the shelf is leveled in parallelism with the first conveyer, the holder-means engages articles on'the first conveyer and shifts them to the shelf, the shelf and holder-means are brought adjacent to the second conveyer and the articles are deposited on the second conveyer.

11. In loader mechanism for removing articles from one conveyer and arranging said articles T on a second conveyer, the combination of a frame larranged for movement between said conveyers, a shelf carried by said frame and arranged for movement relative to the frame, holder-means carried by said frame and arranged for both veritical and horizontal movement relative to said frame, and selective means for moving the frame, the shelf and the holder-means whereby the shelf is leveled in parallelism with the first conveyer, the holder-means engages articles on the first I? conveyer and shifts them to the shelf, the shelf and holder-means are brought into overlapping relation to the second conveyer, the shelf is retracted from beneath the articles which are thus deposited on the second conveyer while laterally sustained by the holder-means, the holder-means is withdrawn from the articles and the shelf and holder-means are returned to the first conveyer to repeat the steps.

12. In loader mechanism for removing articles 'from one conveyer and arranging said articles 5 ona second conveyer} the combination of a frame arranged for movement on a vertical axis' be tween said conveyers, a'shelf' carried by said frame and arrangedformovementrelative to the frame, holder-means carried by said frame and turned to the first conveyer to repeat the steps.

13. Inloa'dermec'hanism forremoving articles frombne conveyer and arranging-them on'a second conveyer, the combination of a frame,

means for moving the frame between the conveyers, a shelf carried by the frame, means for moving the shelf vertically and horizontally relative to the frame, article-holder means carried by the frame and movable relative to the frame, and means for moving the holder means relative to the frame both in unison with and independently of the shelf.

14. In loader mechanism for removing articles from one conveyer and arranging them on a second conveyer, the combination of a frame, means for moving the frame between the conveyers, a shelf carried by the frame, means for moving the shelf vertically and horizontally relative to the frame, article-holder means carried by the frame and movable relative to the frame, and means for moving the holder means horizontally independently of the shelf and vertically both in unison with and independently of the shelf.

15. In loader mechanism for'removing articles from one conveyer and arranging them on a second conveyer, the combination of a frame, means for moving the frame between the conveyers, a shelf carried by the frame, means for moving the shelf vertically and horizontally relative to the frame, article holder-means carried by the frame and movable relative to the frame, means for moving the holder means both in unison with and independently of the shelf, and means for causing the holder-means to converge and to diverge relative to the articles to be loaded.

16. In loader mechanism for removing articles from one conveyer and arranging them on a second conveyer, the combination of a frame, means for moving the frame between the conveyers, a shelf carried by the frame, means for moving the shelf vertically and horizontally relative to the frame, article-holder means comprising tongarms carried by the frame and movable relative to the frame, means for moving the, holder-means both in unison with and independently of the frame, and means for causing the tong-arms to converge to support the articles and to diverge to be retracted from the articles.

17. In loader mechanism for removing articles from one conveyer and arranging them on a second conveyer, the combination of a main frame, means for moving the main frame between the conveyers, a shelf-frame and a holder-frame carried by the main frame and arranged for movement relative to the main frame both in unison its its

and independently, a shelf carried by the shelfframe, and holder-means carried by the holderframe. I 1

18. In loader mechanism for removing articles from one conveyer and arrangingthem on a sec ond conveyer, the combination of a main frame,

means for movlng the main frame between the conveyers, a shelf-frame and a holder-frame carried by said main frame and movable horizontally relative to the main frame and independently of each other, means for moving said shelf-frame and holder-frame vertically and in unison, means for moving the holder-frame vertically relative to the shelf-frame, article-holder means carried by the holder-framaand a shelf carried by the shelf-frame.

19. In loader mechanism for removing articles from one conveyer and arranging them on a second conveyer, the combination of a main frame, means for moving the main frame between the conveyers, a shelf-frame and a holder-frame carried by the main frame and arranged for movement relative to the main frame both in unison and-independently, a shelf carried by the shelfframe, holder-means carried by the holder-frame, said holder-means comprising tong-arms, and means for causing said tong-arms to converge and to diverge.

20. In loader mechanism for removing articles from one conveyer and arranging them on a second conveyer, the combination of a main frame, means for moving the main frame between the conveyers, a shelf-frame and a holder-frame carried by the main frame and arranged for movement relative to the main frame both in unison and independently, a shelf carried by the shelfframe, holder-means carried by the holder-frame, said holder-means comprising tong-arms pivotally mounted on the frame, and means for causing the tong-arms to converge and to diverge.

WILLIAM A. MORTON. CARL A. NIELSEN. 

